Bellevue graduate Bryce Ray normally keeps his feelings to himself in the moment when playing baseball.

“Other times it was pure emotion after a big play,” Redmen coach Andy Dennings said. “He controls himself, but you see that smile pulling into third. He’s poised, but the raw excitement in big games for big plays – that’s fun to be around.”

Ray hit a no-doubt solo home run to straight-away center field for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth in a 2-1 victory over Shelby in the sectional finals as a senior. He tripled on the first pitch in the final game of his career.

Ray, who is one of the athletes in this year’s Michael K. Bosi series, earned first-team all-Ohio status his final two years in high school and second-team as a sophomore. He was first-team all-conference four times, including player of the year in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division as a senior.

He batted .487 with 37 hits, 27 runs, 14 RBI and three strikeouts from the leadoff spot last season. He had three home runs and OPS of 1.326.

He’ll continue his career at Morehead State University.

“His ability,” Dennings said. “His mental toughness is big. He handles the highs and lows of the game of baseball very well. He looked at what he needed to work on. It’s hard for kids to work on what they’re not good at.

“He’s coachable. You know what he can do physically.”

Most notably, consistently square pitches on the barrel of the bat with authority because of bat speed and hand-eye coordination. His talents would stand out in most any group.

He concentrated as much on production as he did on nurturing a positive environment for the team to succeed.

“Playing varsity for four years,” he said of his career highlight. “And playing for Andy Dennings for four years.”

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Bellevue's Bryce Ray rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior.(Photo: Molly Corfman/The News-Messenger)

Bellevue finished first in two conferences during Ray’s career. It took the crown in the Northern Ohio League his freshman campaign and a share of the championship its first season in the SBC last year.

“Freshman year, the run in the postseason,” Ray said of the regional finals. “We beat Shelby in the district final. The game ended on a double play. Dylan DeWitt at shortstop to me at second base.”

Ray wanted to earn what he got as an immediate contributor.

“Coming in as a freshman, it prepared me the same thing as now,” he said of Morehead State. “Coach doesn’t know me, I’ll go in with the older kids and prove myself as the best talent I can be.”

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Bellevue's Bryce Ray played varsity football as a freshman.(Photo: Molly Corfman/The News-Messenger)

Ray also earned four letters for football. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior and was first-team all-Northwest District as a sophomore.

“Bryce always did what you asked him to do, he did it to the best of his ability and he did it that way every time,” Redmen football coach Ed Nasonti said. “He was a team-first guy. That’s the mentality we want from all our players.”

Ray was influenced by his father, Jeff Ray.

“He’s my summer coach,” Ray said. “He made me play to a whole different level. Whenever he was in the dugout, I played better. He drove me around and took me to hitting lessons.”

Ray had to make sacrifices of his own.

“I missed football in the summer two years,” he said. “I stayed in hotels and woke up to lift and then drive to summer league games. Mostly I was missing baseball for football.”

Bellevue is prominent in Ray’s heart.

“I loved playing for my town and the people I’ve been around and with the kids I grew up with,” Ray said. “It made it more special.”

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

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The Bosi Awards

The Michael K. Bosi series recognizes outstanding career or season achievement for high school athletes.

The award is named for the late News-Messenger sports writer who died in 1997 at age 23 from cardiac complications because of Marfan Syndrome.